cvall91

I was just joking too. But I will admit that if it gets around 50, I prefer not to ride. Since I'm not willing to waste money on cold weather gear that will only get used a couple of times. The only cold weather gear I own is a pair of medium range arm and leg warmers. So they work up until ~60 degrees then it starts to get uncomfortable. My fingers, face, and feet freeze up and it's just not enjoyable anymore. At least for me who only experiences cold weather for a couple of days each year. 50 degrees for us feels a lot colder than 50 degrees for a northerner.

Leinster

It's not the temperature that bothers me in those conditions, it's the ice on the roads, the poor visibility outside of working hours at the times of year/latitudes where you get those temperatures, and the stupid drivers.

ovoleg

^^this.

After about 10mins, I'm just lookin at the watch repeatedly.

ovoleg

This too, it's hard for me to keep the wattages up on the trainer like I can on the road. I can barely manage to average 130W on the trainer and it feels pretty HARD.

ThermionicScott 

Or if it's over 90 degrees. Or if it's raining. Or...

I'll have to look for this "ultimate bad asses" thread.

jerrycan42

That bites!

floridamtb

My winter gear consists of zipping my jersey all the way up and maybe, maybe wearing arm warmers... of course I live in South Florida so I'll shut up

cyccommute 

I'll see your New Mexico and raise you Colorado

average annual snowfall

average december temps

Burlington...out on the plains and not known for its extreme snowfall...gets more snow than Albuquerque. And Denver, with it's December average temperature of 43 F for a high and 17 F for a low, is shirt sleeve weather compared to that you find in Canukistan.

Sixty Fiver

There are parts of Canuckistan that are pretty nice in the winter... some even enjoy above freezing temperatures in the winter but I do don't live on one of those areas.

My wife and I plan to move to the interior of B.C. when the girls are older so we can enjoy balmier winter weather.

Seattle Forrest

Meh. The tree line in Colorado is around 11,000 feet, give or take. In Washington, it hovers around 5,000 to 6,000 feet. For Colorado to have a mountain as arctic as Mt Rainier, it would have to be 20,000 feet high.

RJM

Ha! yeah, I tend to ride the bike all year unless there is serious ice on the road. I do put on fenders and tend to ride slower usually carrying more weight. For some reason, I carry more weight on the bike in the winter.

The biggest problem with winter riding is not riding in the cold, it's riding in the dark. I prefer to ride when it is light out and when it is dark out here, you can't see anything. Too rural for street lights.


Yeah, I'm not doing 5 hours on a trainer. 1 or two...max. I do like riding to a good sufferfest video with some awesome music going. It makes the time go by and you do get quite a good workout.

Carbonfiberboy 

This is the right stuff. The difference between top riders and the rest is that top riders pay attention. If you're not paying attention on the bike, take up golf or something. The wonderful thing about trainers and rollers is that you can put your entire attention into the bike and not be distracted by the road, other riders, etc. That's what trainers and rollers are for.

I do all three and have for many years, except that I don't just do spin classes at the gym, I also lift weights, work the climbers and various other equipment. Just choosing one option would be too boring and limited. Winter is the time for mixing it up. Do all the stuff you won't do in the summer because it cuts into your riding.

Fishmonger

Sorry, buddy, I grew up in Washington. I won't say it doesn't snow up there (in the Cascades, not Seattle), but the temperatures are laughable. I don't think you ever have an excuse not to ride.

Seattle Forrest

I think you misunderstood. I ride all year wrong. And snowshoe and ski a bit. I'm not looking for excuses to stay off the bike.

But when you get into the Cascades out here, it makes Colorado look like a tropical paradise.

Machka 

All of the above.

Variety is the spice of life.

cyccommute 

I doubt that. Average January temperature for Denver (5280 feet) are 32F. Average January temperatures for Mt Rainer (assuming that the measure is at Paradise Valley also at around 5000 feet) is 29 F. Average January temperatures in Frisco, CO (9000 ft) is 17 F. Leadville (10500 feet) is also 17F. On the other hand, the record low temperature for Denver is -21F, Frisco is -41F and Leadville is -27 F. Paradise Valley's record low? -13F. Sure it might get colder higher up but the Pacific Northwest has the Pacific...a giant heat reservior...to the west that mitigates the temperatures somewhat. The Colorado mountains don't have that reservior and they tend to be on the recieving end of a river of cold air from Canada.

Temperature decreases pretty predictably with altitude. The temperature at 14000 feet undergoes some slight variations but the top of Rainer is going to be about the same temperature as Mt Evans if the conditions are similar. You aren't going to be able to climb Mt Evans in the dead of winter in shorts. They have similar clothing requirements for similar times of year.

patentcad

fify

patentcad

What is the problem here? STFU and ride already you idiots.

Sixty Fiver

That is just a skiff...

ovoleg

My winter training plan: Move to another state with no snow and good weather

erief0g

I'll see your Colorado and raise you Erie, PA

Top ten snowiest cities with population over 100,000

# 3 on the list

dalava

You just identified exactly the order of likelihood of you doing them.

Option 1 is the ONLY option you will be enjoying.

Cookiemonsta

There are some parts of winter where it is almost impossible to ride due to ice/snow. However, if it is just cold or rainy, I still prefer to just go outside and ride. I can do so pretty comfortably for all temperatures down to and just below the freezing point. Just make sure you have the right gear. This is important. Without the right gear, a fun training ride can turn into hell when the weather conditions are bad.

Gyms are just too expensive in my opinion. I have joined a gym last year to do some spinning and general exercise, but I still ended up going outside to do my exercise. Turns out I would still rather go jogging than sit inside some sweaty room in a gym. But to each their own. Spinning classes are alright though. I quite enjoyed them, which surprised me.

Carbonfiberboy 

Yeah, this is more fun than anything:


75 miles at 36° and raining, anyone?

surgeonstone

Where do you live? If in Alaska get the trainer. Anywhere in the lower 48 get the cold weather gear. Cycling in the winter is fun, kind if like skiing at times but on quiet winter roads it's a blast bob and there is no ride more beautiful than a clear night with a full moon and snow covered fields.